the reach around
The Tahs gave their few remaining fans a nice fuzzy feeling tonight at the SFS scoring 11 tries but they shouldn’t let it go to their heads because the Lions were crap.
The visitors played their customary 7s attacking game keeping the ball alive but they would have been better served at getting more structure into their game. They lost the ball at lot with poor passing and pushing the pass instead of going to ground with the ball safe. To make things worse they were slow to establish defensive lines when turnovers happened.
For a change the Tahs were in the mood to take advantage of turnovers and 6. David Dennis and locks Dean Mumm and Kane Douglas took off on a few long runs sometimes passing Lions still going the other way.
Winger Drew Mitchell had a blinder; in fact he was a candidate for MOTM for both sides after he scored the opening try and helped the Lions score their first with a howler fumble. But he settled down and deserved his 4 tries as he has been one of the few Tahs backs this year who had a go.
There was hardly a Tah that didn’t play well as they all feed on the confidence that the tries generated. 6. Dennis is looking better even game and justifying his starting spot as is 20 y.o. lock Douglas. Mumm the other lock had a blinder.
Dick Muir must be wondering by now why he took up the poisoned chalice of the Lions coaching job. He’s a good coach but it seems as though he doesn’t realise that, on average, half the game is played without the ball. Not only is the Lions’ tackling crap but also they aren’t working together to get into position to make tackles. Muir should spend 90% of future training time on defence.
Lions 12 Doppies la Grange was like a swan amongst the ducks. I felt embarrassed for him. 9. Joubert and 10 Spencer didn’t work well together and were hooked. At least replacement 9. Jano Veermark looked threatening, as rusty as he was. THP Kevin Buys had a few hard runs and 8. Todd Clever continued his good form.
It was good for a Tahs fans to see their bench get on early; in fact they finished with 14 men when Palu came off before the end of the game and there were no subs left.
Tahs bench
• 13. Rob Horne must be close to starting and shouldn’t be playing at all, frankly, if his hamstring is still dodgy. Not that Carter played badly (this week).
• THP Sekope Kepu looked bloody powerful when he replaced Baxter and should get to start in a few games.
• Replacement 9. Josh Holmes looked so sharp I had to check who he was.
• 15. Kurtley Beale looked more promising from the bench than Anesi but still looks over-weight. He defended well except for one non-tackle on Mjekevu as he was thinking about another intercept. He changed his mind too late but was saved a few blushes when Horne, Horan-like, spotted the likelihood of it happening and tamed the Lion.
• 2. Damien Fitzpatrick was a classy linker except for one dropped pass. His future will be defined by how he plays in tougher games, and throws to the lineout, but he looked impressive in this one.
• Lock Caldwell and 7. Mowen look didn’t shine when they came on. Caldwell looked ponderous compared to Douglas and Mumm – it wasn’t his type of game. Mowen was no substitute for Waugh, who had a top game, though to be fair, he is not a 7.
Coach Hickey will be pleased with the Tahs walking the walk for a change instead of talking the talk.
They looked like they were losing their shape in the 2nd half though nothing like the Chiefs did against the Lions a few weeks ago. They settled down. They were also absent behind rucks a few times which enabled the Lions to make inroads. Now and then receiving restarts wasn’t that great either this week.
At least they got to receive a lot of them to practise.
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Even though they scored 11 tries i still didnt enjoy the game that much. It was just so scrappy. Didnt seem to be much structure just a lot of mess and some lucky tries off very poor defence and dropped balls. I did however enjoy one of mitchells tries where barnes gave him a great inside ball, that try was a beauty.
Yeah – the problem playing an unstructured team like the Lions is that you get sucked into playing their type of game – as I warned about on the forum before the game. And if the other team gifts so much ball and they can’t realign their defences, you can’t blame a side for playing turnover rugby and wanting to play a bit of helter skelter rugby themselves to take advantage of situations.
Even taking that into account,the Tahs did lose too much of their structure at times in the 2nd half. (I wish they had tried to do a bit of that against the Sharks.) You have to give them credit though for creating a lot of turnovers and earning a bit of the luck they had.
No, it wasn’t a top match and if the Lions continue in their bad habits they aren’t going to be involved in too many of them this year. Some people thought the Lions v Chiefs rugby was a great game with over 130 points scored but I thought it was horrible rugby and a poor advertisement for the Super14.
Yes, it was much better I must say.
And next week’s trip to Perth to take on the Force should be a piece of cake too for NSW.
However, the real test starts for them from 2 weeks time when they begin to face the NZ teams coz they havent met any one of the 5 NZ franchises just yet.
Meanwhile, I was quite happy with the Crusaders’ victory over the Chiefs in Hamilton coz that’s exactly whats needed for Australia’s top 4 hopes.
The only thing that I didnt like was the fact that the Chiefs got 1 bonus point for losing by 7 (19-26).
But anyway, so far so good from Aussie point of view.
Let’s just hope the Brumbies can take care of the Sharks and the Stormers to finish off the Canes in Cape Town to boost that hope!!!
You are right about the real test starting in NZ, though Perth could be a banana skin if the Tahs think they have it made because they had a record-breaking night against a crap team.
Come and join the forum Some Fan.
I think the Stormers will dust up the Canes, but this doesn’t necessarily help the Aussie teams. There’s a good chance that the saffers will have two in the four, NZ will have the Saders and the last place will be either Tahs or Brumbies. Brumbies have a better draw, but overall the Tahs are playing better. The game at the Olympic Stadium might just decide it.
Drew Mitchell should play 13 or 15. Get him more ball and let him burn people.
I fear Mitchell defensively at 13.
I agree, he isnt the best. I actually think his defence is similar to coopers n beales, always going high in the tackle, Mitchell is a lot stronger though so he pulls it off more. Although i think he would be great in attack at 13.
Shit a brick we’re hard to please aren’t we? Tahs do precisely what we ask of them and in style & still we’re not happy?
Interestingly I thought they kept their structure pretty well under the circumstances and took advantage of every opportunity presented to them. Plus created a few of their own. What else should they have done?
I can’t imagine them getting too far ahead of themselves after that win. But it should show them the way forward & what can be done with ball in hand Rugby, even against tougher opposition.
Go the Tahs.
True BBB. Some people are saying it was a training run and that’s what it should have been against that opposition.
The Tahs players and coaches will get a lot out of that training game if they are smart enough and they will get confidence too.
My opening comments were a bit harsh because I have seen the Tahs roller coaster so often in Super rugby.
I have been harsh myself, but really mate you take the cake.
The Tahs did more than out-point the mangy Lions they did so with STRUCTURE. They restricted the Lions defensively and kicked on with flair; capitalising on broken play.
I will take my wins any way they’re served up. I can live with ugly, especially if flash is also on the menu. Knowing they can serve up a team on a platter every now and then is a bonus for Australian Rugby.
Go Tahs, Brumbies, Reds & Force
Gents – Don’t get me wrong I’ve been know to express the occassional disapproving comment myself.
However if they build on last night, as if it were a ‘training run’ (like that one), and really start to move themselves away from their ‘kick as first option philosophy’ and develop ball in hand, trust your mates….they will be a good team, a very good team.
Points on the board and a bonus one to boot is what matters and if the crowd enjoyed it that’s even better.
Personally I couldn’t keep my eyes open after half time, but that might have more to do with what was in the bottle than what was on the TV screen.
The Lions play was aweful though and a bit sad to watch.
I really liked the look of Joshes passes from the ruck. gave the tahs seem nice width.
Fantastic effort from the tags especially Mitchel. They have to get ri of Carter at 13. Horne needs to come in immediately. Give the punch required.